Hever Castle Ghost, Kent | HauntedRooms.co.uk Hever Castle in Kent, is renowned for being the former home of Anne Boleyn, wife on Henry VIII. It’s Anne’s ghost that has been witnessed here many times throughout the years. Brief History Built around 1270, Hever Castle then consisted of a walled bailey, surrounded by a moat. In 1460, a wealthy London merchant named Henry Bullen purchased the castle and converted it to a Tudor dwelling. His son Thomas, changed his surname to Boleyn and later married Elizabeth Howard, the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas and Elizabeth had many children together, and one of which was Anne Boleyn. It’s not known whether Anne was born in the castle or not, but the likelihood is that she was. It was here were Henry VIII first laid eyes on her, during an affair with Anne’s sister, Mary, whilst he was still married to Catherine of Aragon. Henry was sure Anne would provide nothing but a token resistance. However, Anne was strong-willed, and had other ideas. If Henry wanted her, he would have to show his commitment and love to her by marrying her first.

This began a game of cat and mouse, were Henry fought for her affection. Henry later began his attempts to divorce Catherine, installing Anne as Marchioness of Pembroke. Anne travelled everywhere with Henry, staying in her own Royal apartments. They were secretly married in January 1533, by which time, Anne was pregnant. In June of that year, Anne’s ambitions were realised and she was declared Queen. It was a widely proclaimed as a poor decision by the King. As such, Anne had many enemies, and was thought of by many as witch, for seducing their King and driving a wedge between the Church and the State. In September, Anne gave birth to their first child, Elizabeth. Henry who had longed hoped for a son and heir, was disappointed yet not completely despairing. Anne was to become pregnant again however, she suffered a miscarriage, and Henry’s interest in her began to wane. He found comfort in the arms of Anne’s maid of honour, Jane Seymour. Anne’s detractors began to spread rumours of affairs, and on May 2 1536, she was arrested and charged with adultery and incest.

Anne was sentenced to death at the Tower of London , and was beheaded on May 19, 1536. Ghosts at Hever Castle Anne’s ghostly apparition has been seen wandering the gardens of the castle, often drifting over the bridge that crosses the River Eden. Perhaps she is returning to a place where she spent many happy years, and from where she began her journey that would change the face of history for England. If you want to catch a glimpse of her ghost, it’s believed she appears most often on Christmas Eve. Other ghosts at Hever Castle include an unknown unhappy ghost who wanders the gallery, often groaning and banging. A phantom horse has also been seen, galloping through the long gallery. We have Ghost Hunts Nearby Great Castles - Legends - The Ghost of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle Search The Ghost of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle Nestled in the Kent countryside, Hever Castle resides as a relatively small fixture in the rural landscape. Despite its modest architecture, it played an important role in the history of England. Hever Castle, which was built approximately 1270, consisted of a gatehouse and walled bailey surrounded by a moat.

In 1460, when the castle came into the possession of a wealthy London merchant named Henry Bullen, a Tudor dwelling was added inside the protective walls. Henry's son, Thomas, changed his surname to Boleyn and married Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas and Elizabeth had several children, one of which was named Anne Boylen. As Richard Jones tells the story ... "In 1525, Henry VIII began an affair with Anne’s sister, Mary. When Mary and her husband, William Carey, had a son the following year, whom they named Henry, court gossip was rife concerning the boy’s paternity. Thus, when Henry’s lusting eye focused on Mary’s younger sister, the king expected little more than a token resistance. The strong-willed Anne, however, had other ideas. If Henry wanted her, he would have to marry her, and thus began a game of chase in which the king, for once, was forced to fight for his quarry. Henry wrote 17 letters to Anne, pledging himself, 'in heart body and will' her 'loyal and most ensured servant'.

Consumed with passion, he wrote how he wished to be 'in my sweetheart’s arms, whose pretty dukkys I facest shortly to kiss'. Henry began his attempts to divorce Catherine of Aragon, and created Anne Marchioness of Pembroke. Anne traveled with the royal retinue and was given her own apartments. Finally, secure in the knowledge that the king was hers, she surrendered to his advances, and by the time she and Henry were secretly married in January 1533, Anne was pregnant. In June of that year, her ambitions were realized when Archbishop Cranmer placed the crown on her head and declared her Henry’s queen. It was a universally unpopular coronation. As far as most people were concerned, Anne was a witch who had seduced the king, and whose unforgivable actions resulted in a dreadful rift between Church and State. In September, Anne gave birth to a daughter. Henry, who had long hoped for a son and heir, was disappointed yet not despairing, and the girl was christened Elizabeth. When Anne’s next pregnancies ended in miscarriage, the king’s ardor began to cool, and he found solace in the arms and bed of one of her maids of honor, Jane Seymour.

Henry began paying attention to the gossip spread by Anne’s detractors, and on May 2, 1536 she was arrested and charged with treasonous adultery and incest with her own brother. Anne was sent to the Tower of London, declared guilty, and sentenced to death. On May 19, 1536, she was beheaded at the Tower of London. Inevitably, Anne Boleyn haunts Hever Castle – Christmas Eve being her chosen day. Her somber specter is seen drifting silently over the picturesque bridge that spans the River Eden, in the grounds of the home where she knew much happiness, and from which she embarked upon a journey that would change the course of English history." This ghost story was taken from the book "Haunted Castles of Britain and Ireland" by Richard Jones. We would like to thank Richard for graciously allowing us to use his text on Great Castles for some of the ghost stories presented on this site. You can find other stories by Mr. Jones on his web site, Haunted Britain , or you can buy one of his fantastic books, which he has written over twenty on the paranormal and Jack the Ripper.

To order a book directly from Richard himself, click the image of the book to the left. About the Haunted Castles of Britain and Ireland book: Region by region, ghost-seeker Richard Jones reveals, explains and delights in the tales of tortured phantoms eager to restage their dark and turbulent pasts. The cast of characters ranges from ghostly queens that hurl themselves from the ramparts to malevolent monks that wander the corridors. This authoritative and accessible guide to haunted sites is illustrated throughout and includes extracts from original documents. Is Hever Castle Haunted? Hever Castle History Built in the later part of the 13th century, Hever castle started of life as a simple country home. The only part of the original structure that still remains is the gatehouse and walled bailey. The main part of the castle was built in 1462 by Geoffrey Boleyn, who was the younger brother of Thomas Boleyn, Master of Gonville hall in Cambridge, and he also added the Tudor dwelling which still survives inside the castle walls.

Geoffrey's grandson, Thomas Boleyn inherited the castle in 1505 and lived there with his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard and their three children Mary George and Anne who later became the wife of King Henry VIII, though it is not known of she was born at the castle since records of her birth have been lost in history. Henry VIII later came to own the castle after the death of Thomas Boleyn in 1539 and then went on to pass it to Anne of Cleves just a year later. The castle went through various ownerships after this until its was restored in 1903 by American millionaire William Astor, who used it as a family residence and added the Italian gardens. Today the castle is owned by Broadland Properties Ltd who run the site as a conference centre, though the castle and its grounds are open to the public. Is Hever Castle Haunted There is thought to be only one spirit that haunts the grounds of Hever castle, though people claim there to be several here based on the various activity that goes on.

As you may have guessed the ghostly resident is thought to be the spirit of Anne Boleyn herself, which would make sense due to the description of the apparition and her unfortunate end creating the basis for "unfinished business". Anne was quite happy with her marriage to Henry and longed to give him the son he wanted, but after her first child being born a girl and her second pregnancy ending in miscarriage this ambition seemed like it may not be possible. Henry grew tired of Anne in time and became closer to her maid of honour, Jane Seymour. After rumours of affairs she was arrested and charged with adultery and incest and was beheaded at the tower of London on may 19th, 1536. Her apparition has been seen wandering the gardens of the castle, especially on the bridge in the grounds and for some unknown reason she is most often seen on Christmas eve. People have claimed that they only ever see her from a distance and if approached she fades into nothing. The gallery is also thought to be a hot spot of the castle, with many tales of ghostly noises such as loud bangs coming from empty areas and even the sounds of muffled groaning being commonly reported.

Anne Boleyn's ghost captured on camera at Hever Castle | Daily Mail Online comments A tourist who visited the childhood home of beheaded queen Anne Boleyn has captured a creepy image of what he claims is her ghost stalking the corridors. Liam Archer, 26, was exploring Hever Castle in Kent with his family when he took the picture which appears to show a ghoulish hand hovering in the left hand side of the frame. He spent the afternoon taking pictures around the former home of Henry VIII's second wife including one of an ornate fireplace in a dimly-lit living room in the 13th Century Kent castle. But it was only when he returned home and studied the photo that he spotted what looks like a hovering hand with a long finger apparently pointing towards the chimney. Liam Archer, 26, was exploring Hever Castle in Kent with his family when he took the picture which appears to show a ghoulish hand hovering in the left hand side of the frame Mr Archer, from Lewes, East Sussex, who did not believe in ghosts before taking the picture, is convinced it it the spirit of the young queen, who is said to haunt the castle.

He said: 'In the prayer room there was a fog or a mist hovering around but I didn't think much of it at the time. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'I felt like an unknown force was pulling me through the castle. I couldn't see it but I could definitely feel it. 'I didn't know what to make of it because I didn't believe in ghosts at this point. But I am now confident it is her. Mr Archer is convinced it is the spirit of Henry VIII's (left) second wife Anne Boleyn (right), who is said to haunt the castle It was only when Mr Archer returned home and studied the photo that he spotted what looks like a hovering hand with a long finger apparently pointing towards the chimney VIDEO 'It wasn't until three months after that I realised what I had taken a picture of. 'I believe there is something important historically inside the fireplace she wants me to recover.' This is not the first time the queen's ghost has been spotted in the grounds of the castle, which later came into the possession of King Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Her ghostly apparition has been seen wandering the gardens of the castle, often drifting over the bridge that crosses the River Eden.

Anne's ghost is also said to appear each Christmas at Hever Castle. She is believed to manifest beneath a great oak tree where Anne and Henry courted. American billionaire William Waldorf Astor bought and restored the castle in 1903 and it is now owned by Broadland Properties Limited. The estate is now run as a conference centre, but the castle and grounds are open to the public. This is not the first time the queen's ghost has been spotted in the grounds of Hever Castle in Kent (pictured), which later came into the possession of King Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves Henry VIII | The Haunted Palace The Haunted Palace ~ History, Reviews and the Supernatural Search: ≈ 4 Comments Tags Alison Weir , Anne Boleyn , Blicking Hall , Elizabeth I , English history , Hampton Court , Henry VIII , Hever Castle , Royal ghosts , Salle Church , Tower of London , Tudors , Witchcraft A (very) brief history of Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn, this is possibly the most famous image of Anne, and most likely closest likeness, however no contemporary images of Anne survive (this image dates from the late 16th century). Image: National Portrait Gallery.

I have always been a bit of a sucker when it comes to royal ghosts – the bloodier and more headless the better – and they don’t come more headless than Anne Boleyn. Strong willed, intelligent and beguiling, Anne Boleyn supplanted the popular Queen Katherine of Aragon and stole the heart of Henry VIII. She successfully held the amorous Henry at bay until he divorced his wife and broke with Rome – talk about a tease. Once queen she presided and flirted with a dazzling and talented young court, encouraged religious reform and was not afraid to go head to head with the King. Nevertheless she could also be ruthless – she passionately hated the Lady Mary, Katherine’s loyal daughter, to the point where Lady Mary became convinced that Anne was trying to poison her. She also made some very dangerous political enemies such as the equally ruthless Cromwell. Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I; locket ring worn by Elizabeth I until her death in 1603 In short, it would seem that the seeds of tragedy were planted early on in Anne’s relationship with Henry VIII.

She was never a popular queen, and being an English commoner rather than a foreign princess she could not call on powerful alliances abroad to protect her when the kings love turned sour and the vultures began to circle. Eventually, having failed to produce a male heir, and successfully alienating a lot of powerful men around her, including the King her only protector, Anne was accused of adultery with several men of her inner circle, and incest with her brother George (and just for good measure witchcraft was also added to the litany of charges). Following the execution of many of those closest to her, on 19 May 1536 Anne Boleyn herself was executed by a French swordsman on Tower Green. The fickle Henry was canoodling with Jane Seymour as Anne’s head fell. Although we might all think we are familiar with Anne Boleyn, thanks to the most recognisable image of her (reproduced here), no contemporary images of Anne survive. All we have are ghosts of her memory – initially created in the reign of her daughter Elizabeth I who, privately at least, did wish to keep the memory of her mother alive.

It is a powerful reminder of how someone so famous, briefly so powerful and who held the most famous King of England in her thrall, so much so that he reshaped the English church in order to win her, was almost expunged from history after her fall. Only the whim of fate, which placed her daughter Elizabeth I on the throne, ensured that this most enticing of Tudor queen’s was not lost to history for ever. Sic transit gloria mundi indeed… The Hauntings of Anne Having just read Alison Weir’s fascinating account of the fall of Anne Boleyn, ‘The Lady in the Tower’, I was delighted to find a section in the appendices relating to the legends of hauntings related to Anne Boleyn. Weir brought the historian’s rigour to these colourful tales and cross-referencing the tales against Anne’s known movements, and attested connections with a place during her life, Weir was able(sadly) to debunk quite a few of these sightings. Well… at least to provide evidence that the spectre in question was not Anne Boleyn! From my point of view, the fact that we don’t really know what Anne looked like, does make identification of her spectre problematic!

Nevertheless, here are a few tales of this royal revenants peregrinations…I will leave it to the reader to decide on their veracity… Blickling Hall Blickling Hall. Image by Lenora Blickling Hall in Norfolk is one of my favourite stately homes. On a lush summers day it seems the quintessentially English ancestral pile with its dusty rose brick walls, mullioned windows and topiary garden….but on a dark night in May this rural idyll is rudely shattered by the unquiet souls of the dead. Although the current hall was rebuilt in the early seventeenth century – well after Anne’s death – legend has it that Anne and her siblings were born at Blickling. The earlier hall had belonged to the Boleyn family in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. George and Mary were born there, and it seems likely Anne was too. One local tale that was well established by the eighteenth century, according to Alison Weir, concerns Thomas Boleyn, Anne’s feckless father. Happy to benefit from Anne’s rise, Thomas nevertheless stood by and did nothing as his children Anne and George went to their bloody deaths on the scaffold.

It is said that his tormented spirit is seen driving pell mell up the drive way of Blickling Hall in a carriage driven by a headless coachman and a team of headless horses, pursued by blue devils, and sometimes the headless corpse of George Boleyn. By 1850 Weir notes that this version had elaborated to say that the luckless Thomas was cursed for a thousand years to ride out on the anniversary of Anne’s death, crossing every bridge between Wroxham and Blickling, his gory head in his lap. (There is a slight flaw in this embellishment – Thomas died in bed, with his head fully attached). As with many stories passed down in folk memory they are often elaborated and embellished with the telling, and by the nineteenth century versions of this tale had Anne as the occupant of the carriage – dressed in pure white but glowing red, and with her blood drenched head resting on her lap. Some versions have Thomas, her father as the coachman. The carriage drives right into the hall and disappears, or else stops to allow the gory Anne to descend and begin a nocturnal perambulation of the gloomy chambers of the Hall.

The lake at Blickling – does Anne’s ghost search in vain by its shores…? Image by Lenora Sightings of Anne (and/or Thomas) and the carriage have been frequent and reported by witnesses of varying degrees of credibility. In 1979 an apparition supposed to be Anne was sighted in the library, in 1985 a former administrator of Blickling Hall was awoken by female footsteps in the night only to find no one there. Another sighting occured during world war II when a Butler accosted a mysterious lady by the lake. She was dressed in Grey and had a white lace collar and mob-cap. When asked what she was looking for she replied with the poignant words “That for which I search has long since gone.” It has been pointed out that the costume described sounds more seventeenth century than sixteenth, and that lace was extremely rare in the 1530’s, nevertheless adherents point out that Anne was beheaded in a very similar costume with a white-collar and coif. Blickling Hall can even boast a lost chamber – no English country pile should be without one – associated with Anne Boleyn.

It is said that there is a room at Blickling that had such an evil atmosphere it was walled up and its whereabouts lost – it was called ‘Old Bullen’s study’. Just as an aside, personally I don’t think some one as elegant and sophisticated as Anne would be as crass as to leave an evil atmosphere behind her, (intense perhaps – but surely not evil) perhaps Old Bullen could in fact be greedy, gutless Thomas! Tower of London The Tower of London from the Thames. Image from ‘London Attractions’ Tourist site. Unsurprisingly there are many tales of Anne connected with the Tower of London – after all she was imprisoned here from April until her execution on 19 May 1536 and it was here that she watched as her brother and the men closest to her were brutally executed. My favourite tales from the tower relate to the service that Anne has provided to countless soldiers, the first noted as being in 1864. A guardsman on duty one night saw the white-clad figure of woman emerging from the Queen’s House. Approaching to offer a challenge he got a clear look at the figure and was horrified to discover the lady was sans head!

The soldier was found to have fainted and accused of being drunk on duty and court marshaled. One would not expect a hard-bitten military court to consider the appearance of a headless Tudor Queen as a mitigating factor in such dereliction of duty, however when two witnesses were produced the case was quietly dropped. Needless to say, the ‘Anne Boleyn defense’ was used more than once by soldiers down the years to explain abandoning their posts! Other sightings include ‘bluish figure’ floating across the ground to the Queen’s House and in 1967 the case of one John Hawden who observed a strange glow coming from the windows of the White Tower, lighting a mysterious figure moving between the rooms. When he asked a fellow warden about the phenomenon he was told that it was probably the ghost of Anne Boleyn and that many wardens had witnessed it (although few spoke of it). Hever Castle Hever Castle, Anne’s family seat in Kent. Image by The Giant Puffin via wikimedia. Hever Castle was the Boleyn family seat in Kent and therefore has strong connections with Anne Boleyn.

The most famous story relating to Hever takes place on Christmas Eve (always a perfect time for ghost stories) and relates to a bridge over the River Eden, close by the Castle. Anne is said to be seen crossing the bridge heading for home. In other instances her shimmering wraith-like form is seen lurking about the lawns. The Splatter blog (see sources) describes a chilling encounter with Anne on the bridge over the Eden. In 1979 a member of the Society for Psychical Research set about capturing an image of Anne on the bridge. Staking out the bridge on the appointed day, he was not to be disappointed. On the stroke of midnight Anne duly appeared in the form of a white light. Delighted, he took his picture. Elation soon turned to fear though, when the white light came hurtling directly at him and passed right thorough him. As he turned he saw it disappear over the bridge towards Hever. The following day when he developed his film he found that the entire roll was exposed and not one image had been captured…. Hampton Court and other places Hampton Court – does Anne’s restless spirit roam these corridors?

Image by Lenora Oddly enough there are not many sightings of Anne at Hampton Court – perhaps even her ghost finds it too painful to revisit the site of her greatest triumphs and her eventual fall. However in the late 19th Century she was sighted walking the corridors dressed in blue and looking rather sad. Anne’s restless spirit is associated with more locations that can be covered in this post. Some other places she has been sighted at include Windsor Castle, Rochford Hall in Essex and Bollin Hall, Cheshire. One memorable sighting is recounted by Alison Weir and is based on an interview Nora Lofts conducted with the old sexton of Salle Church in Norfolk. This story links Anne with Witchcraft. Anne is said to walk at Salle Church on the anniversary of her death. Wanting to find the truth of the legend the old sexton sat vigil determined to catch the royal revenant. However, all he saw was a hare run a course about the church before disappearing……the hare being a symbol, particularly in East Anglia, of witchcraft. (NB.

Why is it always an old Sexton in these stories…?) Anne’s lasting memory Some sightings of Anne’s ghost or imprint seem well attested by credible witnesses at sites with a verified connection with Anne’s life. Others have grown around received wisdom and when checked against the historical ‘facts’ cannot possibly relate to Anne (this is not to say that they are not bona-fide sightings – just not necessarily sightings of Anne). Whatever the truth of these tales, their continued popularity demonstrates how much Anne, with her glittering life and her cataclysmic fall from grace, has entered into the subconsciousness of a nation (and beyond). People WANT to see Anne Boleyn and to claim that connection with her enduring ‘glamour’ and her tragic end. Even now, vigils are held on the anniversary of her execution at Blickling Hall and other locations associated with Anne. This woman who might have vanished from history with out a trace as the discarded wife of a fickle King – still has the power to fascinate and captivate us. Anne – among us still? Image by Lenora In her own words So much has been written about Anne Boleyn, I would like to end by letting her speak for herself.

The following poem has been attributed to Anne in the days before her execution… O Death, O Death, rock me asleepe, Bring me to quiet rest; Let pass my weary guiltless ghost Out of my careful breast. Toll on, thou passing bell; Ring out my doleful knell; Thy sound my death abroad will tell, For I must die, 1000+ images about Henry VIII's Wives on Pinterest | Queen anne, Portrait and Aragon Forward Henry VIII's first love token to Anne Boleyn. This is the first love token King Henry VIII gave to Anne Boleyn, which she kept until her death. It is a tiny gold dog whistle with a salt spoon, earpick and toothpick (he was known for his hygeine!). When Anne gave it to her jailer shortly before her execution she pointed out that the design is of a serpent adding "and thus he (Henry) proved ever unto me". It's now kept at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country residence. This is the first...

See More Ghost Queen: Anne Boleyn | Ghosts and Ghouls Ghosts and Ghouls True ghost stories, photos, videos Menu by ghostghoul King Henry VIII may have had six wives, but Anne Boleyn is arguably the most famous. Henry was so smitten by the dark-haired beauty that he declared himself head of the English church, invalidated his 24-year marriage to Katherine of Aragon, married Anne, and then banished the heartbroken Katherine to the palace she reportedly haunts . Despite all this, Anne too eventually lost the king’s favor. However, Anne wasn’t banished. She lost her head on the chopping block and now haunts several English properties. Anne’s Downfall Though Henry pursued Anne for more than six years, the two were married only three. Anne gave birth to a healthy daughter (the future Queen Elizabeth I) early in the marriage, but Henry was desperate for a male heir. When Anne failed to deliver, Henry’s passion waned, and his eyes soon strayed to Jane Seymour, Anne’s cousin and lady-in-waiting. In 1536, Henry’s officials arrested Anne on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.

The queen allegedly had affairs with a number of men, including her own brother, though she denied the charges (which were almost certainly false). Nevertheless, Anne lost her head, and Henry was betrothed to Jane just one day later. The Hauntings A restless Anne Boleyn reportedly haunts at least six English sites: The Tower of London, Hever Castle, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Rochford Hall, and Blickling Hall. The Tower of London The Lady in the Tower Anne was imprisoned in the Tower of London for 17 days before her beheading on May 19, 1536. She was buried at the church of St. Peter ad Vincula onsite, and allegedly haunts the church and the tower fortress itself. On one occasion, a guard noticed an eerie light shining from inside the old church. When he climbed a ladder to investigate, the guard saw people parading down the aisle. At the head was an elegant woman resembling Anne Boleyn. Before the guard could rush inside, the procession and eerie light abruptly disappeared. In 1817, a sentry allegedly died of a heart attack after seeing Anne’s ghost on the stairs.

In 1864, several soldiers witnessed a headless woman in white darting around the fortress. Some say Anne’s ghost still roams the site of her execution, severed head in arms. Hever Castle Anne also reportedly haunts Hever Castle, her childhood home, particularly around Christmas. Legend has it the ill-fated queen wanders the garden of the castle, favoring a huge oak tree that she and Henry often strolled under in the days of their courtship. In August 2015, a tourist snapped this blurry photo which allegedly shows Anne’s bony hand pointing towards a fireplace. Windsor Castle When not haunting another English site, Anne’s ghost appears in the Dean’s Cloister at Windsor Castle. Sometimes she just sits at a window, weeping. Other times, she runs down the hall screaming, cradling her bloodied head. Some say Henry haunts Windsor as well. Hampton Court Palace The Tudors: Complete Series Legend has it Anne also haunts Hampton Court Palace, roaming the corridors in a blue or black dress (with or without her head). If true, Anne’s ghost may encounter the ghost of her replacement, Jane Seymour, or Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

Both women allegedly haunt the palace. Rochford Hall They say that when Anne was executed, the floors and walls of her former home turned blood red. Twelve days after Christmas, Anne reportedly roams the halls of Rochford, wearing white and (once again) carrying her head. Blickling Hall Though headless wanderings and ghostly processions are creepy, Anne saves her most dramatic haunting for Blickling Hall. On the anniversary of her execution, Anne arrives in a phantom carriage pulled by four headless stallions and a headless coachman, or so the stories go. She is of course clutching her severed head. Upon arrival, Anne’s ghostly companions disappear, and Anne wanders the property until sunrise. Perhaps she comes to see her father, Thomas, whose headless ghost also haunts the historic property. What do you make of the Anne Boleyn tales? Does Henry VIII’s second wife truly haunt the palaces she once called home? Or are the stories nothing more than fanciful legends?

Henry VIII and his Six Ghosts | History in the (Re)Making History in the (Re)Making I’m looking for… Search for: Please be aware all commenting has been disabled until I am in a position to moderate them full time again. Thanks :) Top Posts & Pages / Article , Tudor / 7 comments It’s almost Halloween! Therefore break out the ghost stories! Yay! The final episode of ‘The Tudors‘ showed Henry confronted by the ghosts of his first three wives. If legend is to be believed, he shares a haunting ground with Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Given that Henry VIII and his six wives are still immensely popular centuries after their deaths, it is hardly surprising that people still claim to have seen them, haunting various palaces and castles. Ghosts are thought to remain in places of importance, especially if a person died in particularly emotional, violent or neglectful circumstances which accounts for most of Henry VIII’s wives. It is something of a coincidence that Anne of Cleves, who lived a relatively peaceful, drama free life (divorce notwithstanding) and who died of natural causes at old age is apparently resting in peace with no ghostly sightings of her ever reported.

Of all the residences, Hampton Court Palace supposedly houses the most restless royals with apparent sightings of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard (not in the same room I might add). Most of the ghosts apparently move around together with Henry and Anne Boleyn appearing at Windsor, while yet another Anne Boleyn stalks a ‘repentant’ Jane Seymour at the latter’s home of Marwell Hall. Catherine of Aragon Catherine’s spirit apparently occupies only the one location, despite her attachment to her husband, even after their separation. Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, died on 7th January 1536 at Kimbolton Castle. She had been living there since 1535, the second home she had been banished to for refusing to grant her husband a divorce. At the time there were rumours that she had been poisoned by Anne Boleyn or Henry VIII or both. While her body was being prepared for burial her heart was found to be discoloured with a black growth upon it (modern experts believe that this was probably cancer). Although she was buried at Peterborough Cathedral, Catherine’s ghost haunts the place of her confinement and death; Kimbolton.

While there, Catherine limited herself largely to one chamber which is where her ghost has supposedly been seen, though it has also been sighted walking along the inner gallery. The castle is also thought to be haunted by the ghost of a child who died after falling from the battlements. Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn is probably one of the most popular of Henry’s queens. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, this is why she has been sighted in so many places. Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, held his interest as his mistress for six years but had just a brief reign as Queen. Henry had her executed on charges of adultery, incest and high treason at the Tower of London. On the morning of 19th May 1536 Anne was beheaded by a French executioner using a sword. Perhaps as the result of the violent manner of her or because it is widely thought she was innocent Anne’s ghost supposedly haunts a number of locations, more than any other Tudor ghost. The Tower of London: A ghostly Anne has been seen wandering in the tower grounds always headless, though occasionally with her head under her arm.

Hever Castle: Anne’s ghost is thought to return to her childhood home, especially around Christmas time, where she wanders the castle and sings melancholy songs. Most commonly she supposedly appears on Christmas Eve crossing the castle’s bridge over the River Eden near to where Henry VIII first courted her. Blickling Hall: Blickling belonged to Anne’s father Thomas Boleyn and may have been Anne’s birthplace. In rather dramatic fashion, a headless Anne apparently arrives at the Hall on the anniversary of her death in a carriage drawn by a headless coachman. Thomas Boleyn is also thought to haunt Blickling. Hampton Court Palace: Wearing a blue dress, Anne has been seen walking within the castle. Marwell Hall: Henry VIII and Jane Seymour spent some time before they were married, yet Anne is thought to appear behind the hall, haunting the Yew Walk. Windsor Castle: Another popular Tudor haunt, Windsor Castle is apparently home to a number of ghosts. Anne haunts the Dean’s Cloister, once again with her head under her arm. Jane Seymour Anne Boleyn has seemingly followed Jane in the afterlife, even to her own home.

The legend says that Jane’s ghost is repentant and will not rest until Anne forgives her. Good luck. Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, managed to finally deliver the male heir that Henry so desired. Unfortunately the labour was a difficult one, lasting three days. Although Jane survived the ordeal long enough to witness her son’s christening three days later, it became increasingly obvious that she was not recovering. She fell seriously ill, probably from an infection contracted during labour and died on 24th October 1537 at Hampton Court. Jane supposedly returns to Hampton Court Palace on the anniversary of her son’s birth – the 12th October. She has been sighted walking in the cobbled grounds and on the stairs near a gallery usually carrying a candle, dressed in white. She also haunts the Seymour house of Marwell Hall though she remains indoors (probably wise if Anne Boleyn is outside). Catherine Howard Many visitors to the gallery reported feeling cold near the spot where Catherine made her plea. Rather anti-climatically the cold air was found to be a draft. Let’s jump to Catherine Howard (Anne of Cleves seems to be quite happy resting in peace with no ghostly sightings of her).

Catherine was married to Henry for less than two years before she was found guilty of adultery with Thomas Culpepper and executed at the Tower of London on 13th February 1542. Shortly before her death Parliament had passed a bill making it treasonable (and therefore punishable by death) for a queen consort to fail to disclose her sexual history to her husband. Until this bill passed Catherine had been awaiting judgement since November of the previous year at Syon Abbey. When the accusations first emerged Catherine was placed under house arrest. Legend has it she managed to escape her guards and instead fled down the ‘Haunted’ Gallery at Hampton Court Palace where she found the king at prayer. Screaming her innocence she became hysterical and repeatedly banged on the doors until she was dragged away, still screaming. Her screams allegedly can still be heard along the gallery in question, and many people have apparently felt overcome by emotion at the spot. Catherine herself has been seen walking across the gallery towards the Royal Pew before being apparently pulled away, moving backwards and screaming. She has been seen to a lesser extent at the Tower of London. Catherine Parr Another of Catherine’s wards, Lady Jane Grey, also met a violent end.

Her ghost allegedly haunts the Tower of London. Catherine Parr, the last of Henry’s wives survived Henry despite a sometimes turbulent marriage. Shortly after his death, against conventions, she married Thomas Seymour. She fell pregnant for the first time, despite three previous marriages, but died shortly after childbirth at her home of Sudely Castle, where she was also buried. There were rumours that her husband had poisoned her so that he could marry Catherine’s stepdaughter the Lady Elizabeth, but this is thought to be unlikely. Catherine apparently roams the grounds of Sudely dressed in a green dress, however a younger Catherine is thought to haunt Snape Castle, the primary home of her second husband. While the Sudely Castle spirit is supposedly quite melancholy, her counterpart at Snape is described as a peaceful, happy ghost dressed in blue which inspires a feeling of calm in those around her. Henry VIII While Henry and his wives are restless, the rest of his family are far more peaceful. Both his parents and brother have no ghosts, neither do his children Edward VI or Mary I. Henry himself died on the 28th January 1547 at Whitehall after a long history of illnesses which left him obese. He was buried in St.

George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle along with his third wife; Jane Seymour. His spirit is supposed to haunt both Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. At Windsor he wanders the castle groaning in pain as a result of the ulcer on his leg, while at Hampton Court his ghost was apparently caught on security tape in 2003. Henry VIII’s daughter Elizabeth I has also been sighted at Windsor wearing black, while her footsteps can be heard crossing the library. Follow us on Twitter @HistoryRemaking Anne Boleyn's home Hever Castle unveils Henry VIII portrait - BBC News BBC News Anne Boleyn's home Hever Castle unveils Henry VIII portrait 10 March 2015 Image copyright Hever Castle Image caption The painting has been acquired on behalf of the castle A portrait of Henry VIII as a young man has been unveiled at Anne Boleyn's childhood home at Hever Castle, Kent. The picture is a 16th Century replica of a painting by Joos van Cleve. The original Joos van Cleve portrait is in the Royal Collection . The painting has been purchased on behalf of the owners of the castle and is part of an exhibition there.

According to the castle, it is thought to date to 1532 and pre-dates more widely-known portraits by Holbein . 'Desperately courting Anne' Art historian Philip Mould, who acquired the painting, said it offered an exciting look at a man who was "a colossus of English history" at a time when he was pursuing his second wife. "This is the Henry who, in 1532, was courting the woman who lived here at Hever - the Queen Anne-to-be," he said. Staff at the castle near Edenbridge said the unveiling coincided with the recent broadcast of the BBC's Wolf Hall and a renewed public interest in "all things Tudor". Author and broadcaster Kate Williams, who was at the unveiling, described Hever Castle as a "Tudor time machine". "It's like walking into Anne Boleyn's house as it was when she was standing here and Henry VIII was desperately courting her, begging her to marry him, and she was still holding back." The exhibition at the castle, A Bed of Roses, includes a medieval oak bed frame believed to be the marriage bed of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

Image caption Anne Boleyn grew up at Hever Castle The Ghost of Anne Boleyn - The Anne Boleyn Files The Ghost of Anne Boleyn Posted By Claire on March 19, 2010 Thanks to Anne Boleyn Files visitor Nancy Smith for writing this great article on the ghost (or ghosts!) of Anne Boleyn – I love a good ghost story! “With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm and Other Tales of the Ghostly Anne Boleyn” If legends are true, Anne Boleyn’s ghost must be the most traveled ghost in Britain – if not in the whole world!

In researching Anne’s afterlife, I have found at least seven locations where her spirit is said to walk: Hever Castle, her childhood home Blickling Hall, her alleged birthplace The Tower of London, where she was executed Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle, where Anne and Henry resided during their marriage Salle Church in Norfolk, where Anne’s body was allegedly moved after her original burial in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London and secretly buried under a black slab near the tombs of her Boleyn ancestors Marwell Hall in Hampshire, a residence of the Seymours between 1530-1638. Marwell Hall - photo by davidhc on flickr Salle Church and Marwell Hall I’ll start with the stories about which I could find the least information. I was unable to find any specific ghost stories relating to Salle Church, and the only story I could find about Marwell Hall is that she haunts YewTree Walk, where Henry VIII and Jane Seymour are rumored to have strolled while planning their wedding.

Legend has it that Henry and Jane were at Marwell Hall while Anne was in the Tower awaiting execution, and that Henry had arranged for a chain of beacons to let him know that the execution had taken place. It has also been rumored that Henry first married Jane at Marwell Hall on May 19 (the day of Anne’s execution!) before their official wedding on May 30, 1536. Hampton Court Palace - photo by Paudie Kennelly Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle Anne also haunts two of the most famous royal residences in southern England – Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle. At Hampton Court she is seen wearing a blue dress. She has been described as walking slowly, with a sad countenance. One wonders if she ever encounters her successor, Jane Seymour, who died at Hampton Court on October 24, 1537, 12 days after giving birth to Prince Edward. Jane has been seen in the Clock Court and in the Silver Stick Gallery, wearing a white robe and holding a lit candle. Anne might also encounter the spectre of her first cousin, Henry’s fifth wife, Queen Katherine Howard, as she meanders the halls of Hampton Court.

Following her arrest , Katherine allegedly broke free from her guards and ran towards the door of the Chapel, where Henry was at prayer, in hopes that if she could appeal to him in person, Henry would pardon her. Henry ignored her pleas, and Katherine was dragged struggling and screaming back to her rooms. The corridor through which she ran is now called the Haunted Gallery, and Katherine’s ghost can still be seen and heard running down the corridor, still pleading for mercy. Windsor Castle At Windsor Castle, Anne’s ghost has been seen standing at a window in the Dean’s Cloister. If stories are true, the hauntings at Windsor Castle may be a (dysfunctional) family affair. Henry also allegedly haunts Windsor, and one wonders what they might say to each other if they were ever to meet. Castle guests have heard Henry’s footsteps echo along the corridors of the castle, and have heard him moaning and groaning as he attempts to pull his ulcerated leg along behind him. Henry’s and Anne’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, has been seen by several members of the royal family haunting the Royal Library. Sounds of her high heels are heard on the bare floorboards before her figure appears and passes through the library and into an inner room.

She has also been seen standing at a window in the Dean’s Cloister, wearing a black dress with a black lace shaw draped over her shoulders. Since Anne has also been seen in the Dean’s Cloister, perhaps mother and daughter have been able to forge the relationship that they were denied in life in the afterlife. One certainly hopes so. Now I’ll tell the stories that relate to the places that had the greatest effect on Anne during her lifetime, either because of the happy times she enjoyed there, or because of the traumatic associations she has with them. Blickling Hall To start at the beginning, Blickling Hall in Norfolk is the place where many modern historians believe to be Anne’s birthplace. The present building, built in the early 17th century, for Sir Henry Hobart, stands on the site of a previous building that belonged to Anne’s father, Sir Thomas Boleyn. On May 19, the anniversary of her death, Anne is said to return to Blickling Hall. A carriage comes up the drive leading to the hall, drawn by six headless horses and driven by a headless coachman. Anne sits inside, dressed in white and holding her severed head in her lap.

When the carriage reaches the front doors, the horses and carriage disappear and Anne goes inside to roam the halls until daybreak. Blickling Hall Also on May 19 her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, is seen being dragged across the countryside by four headless horses. His headless ghost has also been seen wandering the grounds of the estate, searching for peace and justice. Blickling Hall is also said to be haunted by their father, Sir Thomas Boleyn. Some say he is the driver of the coach that delivers Anne to Blickling Hall on the anniversary of her execution. After dropping Anne off at the front doors at midnight, Sir Thomas continues on, pursued by hoards of screaming demons cursing him for his betrayal of his family. He is forced to drive his spectral coach over 12 bridges that lie between Wroxham and Blickling for 1,000 years as penance. Hever Castle Hever Castle Hever Castle, Anne’s childhood home, came to be in 1272, when Sir Stephen de Penchester was granted permission from Edward I to convert his house at Hever into a castle.

The Boleyns purchased the castle in the early 16th century, rebuilding much of the castle and erecting a comfortable Tudor residence within its walls. Henry VIII was rumored to have courted Anne beneath the great oak, which is still standing. The hauntings at Hever Castle are not nearly as macabre as those at Blickling Hall. Anne loved Hever, so perhaps she returns there for peace, and to contemplate the happiness that she once knew there. Every Christmas Eve she has been seen crossing the bridge over the River Eden in the castle grounds. She has also been seen standing beneath the great oak, under which Henry wooed her. The Tower of London The final, and by far most active of the places that Anne allegedly haunts is the Tower of London, the place of her execution. If ghosts are, as some believe, surviving emotional memories typical of one who has died violently, traumatically and tragically, as Anne did, then it is very understandable that some essence of her remains at the Tower.

The main fortress of the Tower, known as the White Tower, was begun by William the Conqueror in 1078 and added onto by subsequent monarchs, so the Tower was already over 450 years old when Anne became queen. Since the Tower was a place of imprisonment and death for most of its existence, as well as a royal residence, it is said to be the most haunted building in London, if not the whole of England. Anne Boleyn’s ghost has been seen in several places around the Tower grounds – in the White Tower, the Queen’s House, where she allegedly stayed the night before he coronation and also during her imprisonment prior to her execution (Claire’s excellent article about Anne and the Tower proves that this is a fallacy – see Anne Boleyn and the Tower of London ); Tower Green, site of the scaffold; and the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, where she was buried under the floor of the chancel in an arrow case. The White Tower In 1817 a sentry patrolling the White Tower suffered a fatal heart attack after encountering a ghostly Anne Boleyn on a staircase.

In 1864 a sentry standing guard outside of the Queen’s House reported seeing the white figure of a woman veiled in mist. She was wearing Tudor dress and a French hood; however, where her face should have been there was nothing. He challenged the figure and when it did not reply and continued towards him, the sentry made a thrust at it with his bayonet. What happened next caused him to swoon – his bayonet passed through the figure, and a firey flash ran up his rifle and gave him a shock. The sentry was court-martialed for falling asleep during his watch. He was found not guilty when several eyewitnesses told the court that they had also seen the headless woman on Tower Green that night. One officer who saw the event from a window in the Bloody Tower testified that he had heard the sentry yelling at the figure to stop, and then saw him thrusting his bayonet through it. He saw the figure pass through the bayonet and then through the sentry as well. By far the most spectacular haunting by Anne in the Tower takes place in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried.

In the late 19th century, a Captain of the Guard noticed a light burning in the locked chapel late at night. Upon finding a ladder and placing it against one of the chapel windows, he was shocked at the scene taking place in the otherwise “empty” chapel. It can best be described by an excerpt from Ghostly Visitors by “Spectre Stricken”, London 1882: “Slowly down the aisle moved a stately procession of Knights and Ladies, attired in ancient costumes; and in front walked an elegant female whose face was averted from him, but whose figure greatly resembled the one he had seen in reputed portraits of Anne Boleyn. After having repeatedly paced the chapel, the entire procession together with the light disappeared.” Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula - Photo by Paudie Kennelly by Nancy Smith Thanks for a wonderful article, Nancy! With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm Nancy’s article title “With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm” refers to a song about Anne Boleyn’s ghost, written by R P Weston and Bert Lee in 1934 and performed by Stanley Holloway.

Here are the lyrics:- In the Tower of London, large as life, The ghost of Ann Boleyn walks, they declare. Poor Ann Boleyn was once King Henry’s wife – Until he made the headsman bob her hair! Ah yes! he did her wrong long years ago And she comes up at night to tell him so. [With her head tucked underneath her arm She walks the Bloody Tower! With her head tucked underneath her arm At the midnight hour…] She comes to haunt King Henry, She means giving him what for, Gadzooks, she’s going to tell him off for having spilt her gore, And just in case the headsman wants to give her an encore She has her head tucked underneath her arm! [Chorus] Along the draughty corridors for miles and miles she goes, She often catches cold, poor thing, it’s cold there when it blows, And it’s awfully awkward for the Queen to have to blow her nose With her head tucked underneath her arm! Sometimes gay King Henry gives a spread For all his gals and pals – a ghostly crew.

The headsman carves the joint and cuts the bread, Then in comes Ann Boleyn to queer the do; She holds her head up with a wild ‘Wahoop!”, And Henry cries ‘Don’t drop it in the soup!’ [Chorus] The sentries think that it’s a football that she carries in, And when they’ve had a few they shout ‘Is Ars’nal going to win?’ They think it’s Alec James, instead of poor old Ann Boleyn With her head tucked underneath her arm! [Chorus] One night she caught King Henry, he was in the canteen bar, Said he ‘Are you Jane Seymour, Ann Boleyn or Cath’rine Parr? For how the sweet san fairy ann do I know who you are With your head tucked underneath your arm!’

Question: Which of Henry VIII wives haunts Hever Castle?
Answer: ANNE BOLEYN